Mike Ditka was hospitalized Friday with what doctors told him was a "very minor" stroke.

The former Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints coach and Hall of Fame tight end has not had any health problems in recent years, the Chicago Tribune noted. Ditka suffered a heart attack in 1988 when he was the Bears' head coach.

Mike Ditka was hospitalized Friday with what doctors told him was a 'very minor stroke.' (AP Photo)

"I feel good right now and it's not a big deal," Ditka told the Tribune on Friday night.

Ditka told the newspaper he was at a country club playing cards on Friday when he noticed that his hands "weren't working quite right," and that he was having problems speaking.

Ditka works for ESPN as an NFL analyst and is part of its "Sunday NFL Countdown" show. Ditka will not be on the show this weekend, ESPN NFL Senior Producer Seth Markman tweeted.